Combined pneumatic and cushion tire and rim.



Patented Dec. 5, |899.

L. DE F. MUNGER.

COMBINED PNEUMATIC AND CUSHION TIRE AND-RIM.

(Application med July 21, 1899.)

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UNITED ASTATES LOUIS DE F. MUNGER, OF NEW YORK,

N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL VHEEL AND TRACTION COMPANY, OF SAMEPLACE.

COMBINED PNEUMATIC AN D CUSHION TIRE. AND RIIVI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,590, dated December5, 1899.

Application nea July 21, 1899.

To o/Z whom/.it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS DE F. MUNGER, of New York, Brooklyn borough,county of Kings, State of New York, have invented a new and usefulCombined Pneumatic and Cushion Tire and Rim, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in pneumatic tires and rimstherefor, its object Io being to provide a non-collapsible pneumatictire and an improved means of attachment of the same to thewheel-felly,specially designed for use on traction-wheels ofautomobile-vehicles.

To this end my invention consists, essentially,in providing an ordinarypneumatic tire substantiallycircularin cross-section,within teriorlyoppositelydisposed buffer ribs or cushions,one adjacent the tread of thetire and These buffer-ribs are of such dimensions and shape and sopositioned that the tire is protected against collapse by reason ofexcessive load or deiiation, the ribs being brought into contact underz5 such circumstances and automatically forming thereby a cushion-tire.The conformation of the meeting faces of the ribs is such as to causethem to interlock and prevent lateral displacement of one upon theother, and 3o consequent lateral distortion of the tire, as would be thecase if the ribs slipped out of engagement with each other, permittingthe tire to collapse, which could readily occur when the vehicle isturning a corner or traveling upon a lateral incline. The preferred formin cross-section of the ribs is shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich one is provided with a V-shaped groove and the other with acorrespondingly-shaped tenon to 4o fit the same.

My invention further consists in providing an annular metallic rim orbed for the tire, to which all of the meeting surface of the tire ispermanently vulcanized. This rim or bed is Serial No. 724,637. (Nomodel.)

and its connections with the wheel-felly, all in cross-section.

The tire A is made up of a compound structure of an exterior layerortread 2 of rubber, 55 layers Vof fabric or cloth 3, inner air-tube 4,buffer-ribs 5 and 6, and supplementary inner air-tube 7, which coversthe inner surface of the buffer-ribs 5 and has its edge vulcanized uponthetnbe 4, thus forming a further pro- 6o tection against leakage'fromany rupture or puncture through the tread of the tire. The uppertread-rib 5 is V-shaped, or it may be rounded or of other suitable formthat willV give a central depending ridge and side walls. Thebase-buffer rib 6 has a conversely-shaped groove to receive'thetread-buffer, so that the latter will enter the base-buffer and beinterlocked therewith, so as to prevent lateral displacement of thebuffers and distortion of the 7o tire. Between and around the buffer areairspaces which extend to the edges of the side walls of the tire andbetween the buifers and the edges of the tire and are substantiallyelliptical in form. The outer side wall of each air-'space is thusparallel for its Whole length with the outer periphery of the tire,andthe center of the elliptical spaces is slightly above the center of thetire, so that when the tire is depressed and the buffers are in con- 8otact thesecenters will coincide. By these features when the buffers arepressed into contact the side walls of the tire will be bentin a perfectcurve and the side spaces into substantially circular form. The shapeand 8 5 size of these air-spaces will give practically the same effectas the air-space in an ordinary pneumatic tire when the centraltreadsurface is depressed and elliptical air-cushions forlned on eitherside thereof. The buf- 9o. fers 5 and 6 are made integral with the tire.

The rim B is made up of the concave annular ring S, conforming to thecurvature or shape of the inner periphery of the tire, and to which thelatter is permanently vulcanized. The edges of the ring 8 are outturnedto embrace a strengthening-wire 9, the tire being preferably providedwith soft-rubber shoulders or ribs l0, lying over the edges of the ring8 and vulcanized thereto. These roc ribs strengthen the connection incase of lateral strain and tend to prevent breaking away of the tirefrom the rim and resultant chaing.

'In order to fit the rim to the wheel-felly, I

preferably attach to the ring S another sheet# metal ring 11, shaped tothe periphery of the felly 12 and with'its edges turned over the wire 9,inside of the rolled edges of the ring 8, the rings being brazedtogether at their points of contact, if desired, to make the con.

- by means of the bolts 17, threaded into the 17, alternating with thebolts 20.

sleeves 14. vThe ring 16 also has studs 18, permanentlysecured theretoand adapted to enter holes or sockets in the rim`B., On the outer sideof the wheel I arrange a smaller clamping-ring 19, adapted to be slippedupon the wheel after the tire is in place and to be held thereon bymeans of bolts 17, (not shown,) threaded into alternating sleeves 14,and to be removed from the wheel by a series of backingoff bolts 20,alternating with the bolts 17, and having shoulders 2l engaging theinner face of the ring 19, whereby the bolts 20 on being unscrewed willcarry the ring 19 o from the wheel. The. ring 19'is secured to thewheel-rim B by means of bolts or screws 22, so that when the annularring 19 is drawn off from the wheel by means of the backingo screws 2Othe tire and rim are drawn off with it.

The operations of attaching and detaching the tire are obvious from theforegoing construction. The bolts 2O are screwed home into theirrespective sleeves. The annular ring 19 is then applied and secured tothe rim by means of the screws or bolts 22 and the whole then driveninto place by means of the bolts In removing the tire the bolts 17 arefirst removed, and then by unscrewing the bolts 2O the ring 19and theconnecting-rim B and tire A are drawn oft the felly.

In use with a light or ordinary load the tire acts as a simple pneumatictire. In case, however, of excessive load or a partial defiation of thetire the buffer 5 becomes seated upon and engages with the buffer 6,opposite the bearing-point of the wheel upon the pavement, and the tireis thus prevented from entirely collapsing or receiving injury bylateral distortion.

I claimy 1. A non-collapsible pneumatic tire, circular in cross-section,provided with interiorly, oppositely-disposed surfaces formed on theinner periphery of the tire with air-spaces between and around them andextending entirely across the tire to the air-tube, said surfacesprovided with means to engage and interlock, whereby collapsing, andlateral distortion of the tire are prevented, substantially asdescribed.

2. A pneumatictire circular in cross-section V provided with interiorlyoppositelydisposed ribs, said ribs having interlocking meeting? faces,and air-spaces on both sides of said ribs extending entirely across thetire to t-he l air-tube, whereby when the said ribs engage the lateraldisplacement of the same and distortion of the tire are prevented,substan-J tially as described.

3. A pneumatic tire provided with a buerL` ridge on the interior of itstread-surface, and an interior groove in thel tire opposite saidridgeand correspondingly shaped to receive the same on the deflation ofthe tire or under excessive' pressure thereon to thereby prf,

vent the collapse of the tire and limit the in ward depression of thetread, andair-spacc ing entirely across the tire to the air-tube,substantially as described.

4. As an improved article of manufactura' a tire of the classydescribed,having an annu- Von both sides of said buEer-ridge and extendlar metallic ring conforming to its inner periphery, and with all itscontacting surface permanently vulcanized thereto, the ribs-or shouldersupon the tire overlapping and vulcanizedto the edges of the rim, thestrength- 5 ening-Wire in the rim edges, and the annular ring conformingto the face of the Wheel-telly and fitted thereto and permanentlyattached. to the ring vulcanized to the tire, and adapted4 to bedetachably connected to the wheel..

5. A tire of the class described, in combination with a metallic ringconforming to its inner periphery and having its entire contachabletire-rim, means for fastening said rim to the felly consisting ofclamping-bolts and removing-bolts having shoulders interior A:

the ring substantially as described.

7. In combination with a tire, a felly, a detachable tire-rim,contacting surface of said felly and rim tapered, means for fasteningsaid rim to the felly consisting of clamping bolts and removing-boltsyhaving shoulders interior the ring, substantially as described.

Signed at New York city, New York, this 11th day of July, 1899.

LOUIS DE F. MUNGER.

'Vitnesses:

T. D. MERWIN, AUGUSTUS LEE, J r.

